Britain has been warned to brace itself for a blast of arctic weather this week. Temperatures could fall to -15C in northern Scotland and we can presumably expect all manner of dire consequence – closed schools, deserted high streets, lost productivity, motorway chaos, soaring fuel bills. It will bring cheer to those who claim the next ice age is upon us. All of this has become part of the ritual of seasonal change. There are, however, parts of the world where -15C is regarded as comfortable. What makes it uncomfortable in Britain is the relatively high humidity of Atlantic coastal regions. In dry conditions, low temperatures are not a problem. If water pipes were buried deeper, homes insulated, the roads swept and pavements gritted, a blast of cold air would do us all good. Walking is healthier as more body fat is broken down in the process. People undertake fewer journeys and thus make better use of the ones they prioritise. Chewing gum and dog poo stay frozen in the street and not on the soles of your shoes. Cars are kept unwashed and home improvement delayed until the spring. It is a procrastinator's paradise, when the unfinished business of the rest of the year is buried deep in layers of compacted snow and forgotten about. Lost cars in Russia are called snowdrops, for their habit of emerging unexpectedly in the spring. Its a time for dreaming of projects, freed from the constraint of having to carry them out. Shame the rest of the winter is forecast to be warm.